In today’s auto market, the dealership that responds first usually wins the deal. But it’s not just about replying fast — it’s about how quickly you can meet the buyer’s needs, from the first click to the final signature.
Speed isn’t about being first — it’s about being first and best. The right digital retailing platform helps you respond fast, reduces back and forth, structure deals accurately, and give buyers the seamless experience they expect.
Your website and the technology stack on it including your Digital Retail platform need to allow for a quick load time so that a customer does not bounce out of impatience. A multitude of eCommerce studies show that conversion rates are highly sensitive to load time. For example, a study by Portent found conversion rates are 2.5x higher for eCommerce sites that load in 1 second compared to those that load in 5 seconds. (Portent)
Every additional step in the buyer journey is a chance to lose them. When a buyer has to re-enter info multiple times, jump between tools, or wait for a callback, they bounce — and your competitor picks them up.
According to Google, 76% of people say the most important factor in a website's usability is how easy it makes it to find what they want. In automotive, that means real-time payment estimates, trade appraisals, credit prequalification, and inventory availability — all instantly accessible.
Faster experiences = higher close rates.
Not all fast is good fast. If your DR tool gives a payment before pulling credit — or returns an aggressive trade number without dealer input — you might be setting unrealistic expectations. That slows things down later when your team has to unwind it.
A smart DR tool like uses soft credit pulls, dealer-defined pricing rules, and VIN-specific inventory logic to keep speed and accuracy in balance. That way, when the customer walks in, the deal is real — not a mirage.
Digital retailing that matches your process eliminates double-entry, manual follow-ups, and backend workarounds.
For instance, Rebecca Bandy from Rimrock Subaru shared that using WebBuy in her showroom allows her to move through the penciling, desking, and negotiation phase of her selling process quickly because it is structured and automated where it can be. Customers appreciate the ability to see all necessary information displayed clearly on the screen, reducing anxiety and increasing their confidence in the purchase process.
Rebecca’s store saw deal structuring times drop dramatically. This enables her to sell 4 cars on busy Saturday rather than be limited to selling just 2 cars.
Less time per deal means more volume — or just more time to actually sell.
When you remove friction with a clean user interface, buyers are more likely to engage with upsells like F&I products, add-ons, and service packages.
According to JD Powers and WebBuy’s own internal data, dealers see higher front-end and F&I grosses on deals where buyers move through the full tool.
If you’re not sure how your store is doing, here’s a quick checklist:
Does your digital tool provide penny-perfect pricing instantly?
Can shoppers get prequalified without leaving your site?
Are all your instant trade-in offers integrated with your Digital Retailing tool?
Can your team pick up where the buyer left off without redoing the work?
If the answer is “no” to any of the above, you’ve likely got speed bumps that are costing you deals.